Page 23 of Replay

“I’m here to learn. So, if you could be so kind as to remove your growing extremities from my vicinity,” I tease, then turn back to the tank to try to cool off and not take him up on his offer.

“You’d be my treasure,” Nate says as he wraps his arms around me.Butterflies swirl in my belly as I look at him over my shoulder.

“It's true. You’re the thing I treasure most in this world.” He kisses my cheek softly, and I feel my knees buckle.

This guy means the world to me, and I to him. Nothing will ever tear us apart… Nothing.

“He’s looking at you again.” Bellamy’s voice pulls me from my memory.

I turn my attention from the jumbotron to the sideline, and one thought stirs on repeat as I stare back.

Why did you give up on something you treasured, Nathan Outlaw?

Nate

“All I Do Is Win” by DJ Khaled blares through the stadium, and the crowd goes crazy when the jumbotron zones in on my team heading back onto the field as the halftime clock dwindles. The adrenaline rushes back through me with every step. We had one hell of a first half, and after our locker room pep talk from Coach Price, we’re ready to finish strong.

I find my dad in the stands as I jog past, and he lifts two fingers. His reminder to me that I have two more touchdowns to go. Feeling more confident than ever that I’ll carry out his manifestations, I salute him. He’s always believed in me, but after my injury and being replaced so easily, my ego was taken down a few notches.

I keep walking, and like so many other times today, my eyes flit past my dad to where Berkley stands with her roommates and the twins. Her blonde hair in two braids is almost long enough to touch her exposed back. The tan skin right above her ass in those tiny jean shorts makes my dick twitch inside my jock cup. She’s such a fucking stunner.

Deep down, I know she didn’t do it for me, but I can’t say that when I saw her right before the first snap of the game, that I didn’t feel pure relief. No Graves jersey in sight, just her tight,tanned stomach on display with a wolf stretched across her maroon crop top.

She has her back to me, talking to Bellamy, and I allow my gaze to trail down her toned legs. Even though I can’t tell from here, I can almost guarantee she has on a pair of Air Forces.

“Wipe that drool off your mouth and let’s go get ’em.” Graham nudges me, putting on his helmet.

I steal one more glance, and this time, she turns in my direction. I expect the smile to drop from her face when our eyes meet, but it doesn’t. She holds my gaze for a few beats, and I squeeze my hand at my side, so I don’t lift it up and give her the symbol I used to at every game in high school.

“Seriously, Nate, come on. We got work to do.”

He’s worried my head isn’t in it, but he has no idea how much just one simple look from her drives me to do my best. Hell, just her being here lights a fire under me.

Yes, she’s on my mind, like always, and especially after my dad’s admission about her not going home to Nori beach. I plan to go out there and win this game first, and then at some point this weekend, I’m going to find out what that’s all about, one way or another.

“I’m coming.”

He smacks my ass, and then a shit-eating grin takes over. “Sorry, I forgot ass play is your thing.”

Because he and my other roommates are as mature as thirteen-year-old boys, they haven’t let Berkley’s comment go.

“How about you stay away from my ass, and I’ll get you a touchdown this half.”

He winks. “Bet.”

I head through the back entrance, out to where our family and friends are waiting. I’m smiling from ear to ear. It feels good to still hear the buzz of the fans when leaving the stadium, happy with our win today over Tennessee.

As I look for my dad, I’m met by the most beautiful girl in the world instead. Standing in between my roommates and hers, I’d give anything in this moment to walk up to her, pull her into my arms, and kiss her silly. But I have no right to do that anymore. I can’t rewind the clock and change other people’s actions, nor can I change my own.

There’s the superstar!” Maverick cheers. I finally peel my eyes away from Berkley as I make my way closer to the group, giving the twins a bro hug.

The win feels good. Four touchdowns, one that I ran into the end zone, just like my dad predicted, and a pick six from a crazy interception by our rookie linebacker. On top of that, Nola and Graham scored too. It was an epic first game and there’s only one thing that would make it better.

And all five foot two of her standing in front of me.

“Hey, ladies, did y’all have fun?”I greet Berkley and her friends.

“I personally love hockey more, but there were a lot of good views out there today, so I ain’t mad about it,” Bellamysays, raising her eyebrows, and Cash’s flaring nostrils have me chuckling.

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